THE AFL Under 18 Academy will step out for the second of its two showcase games on Saturday, taking on Footscray at Whitten Oval. After going down to Coburg by 26 points a fortnight ago, the nation’s brightest group of draft age players faces a daunting task against the VFL’s ladder leader.

>> SCROLL for the full squad & predicted lineup

A squad of 24 is set to face the Bulldogs, with only one injury replacement player required. Three members of the initial squad will miss out, while the four top-ups from game one will not feature. Meanwhile, six players make their returns after missing out through injury against Coburg.

Stay tuned, Rookie Me Central will have Scouting Notes on ALL 24 National Academy players.

>> Scouting Notes: AFL Academy vs. Coburg VFL

NEED TO KNOW

WHO: AFL U18 Academy vs. Footscray VFL
WHEN: Saturday April 27, 11:00am (AEST)
WHERE: Whitten Oval, Footscray
HOW TO WATCH: Live stream via AFL website

OPPOSITION REPORT

Footscray Bulldogs
2024 record: 1st | 4-0 | 137.6%

– AFL-aligned club
– Former AFL-listed players
– Only undefeated team in the VFL

SQUAD CHANGES

IN: Bo Allan, Malakai Champion, Archer Day-Wicks, Sam Lalor, Xavier Lindsay, Finn O’Sullivan, Matt Whitlock

Six original members of the AFL Academy will make their debuts in national colours on Saturday, along with Matt Whitlock, who comes into the side as a straight swap for fellow key defender Noah Mraz. Among the returning cast is top prospect Finn O’Sullivan.

O’Sullivan returned from a thumb injury via the APS competition last week, as did Sam Lalor. The midfield bull shook off a groin strain to boot seven goals in his first outing of the year. Both are a chance to rotate on-ball, with O’Sullivan capable of playing anywhere and Lalor suited up forward.

West Australians Bo Allan and Malakai Champion are both poised to turn out too, with Champion ready to go after a WAFL Colts outing last week. They should slot in at opposite ends of the ground to each other, with Allan aerially apt and Champion dangerous at ground level.

Victorian pair Archer Day-Wicks and Xavier Lindsay have both recovered from corkies to take up their spots in the side. Lindsay got through unscathed in Gippsland’s win over the Swans Academy on Saturday, while Day-Wicks hasn’t played in just over a month.

OUT: Sid Draper (shin), Jonty Faull (back), Noah Mraz (leg), Taj Hotton, Jayden Nguyen, Tobie Travaglia, Jack Whitlock (all injury replacements)

Mraz’s recent leg injury means he misses alongside Sid Draper (shin) and Jonty Faull (back), who were also unavailable for game one. The four previous replacements – Taj Hotton, Jayden Nguyen, Tobie Travaglia, and Jack Whitlock – have not been called upon this time around.

PREDICTED LINEUP

B: #30 Luke Trainor – #26 Harry O’Farrell – #20 Bo Allan
HB: #3 Ben Camporeale – #38 Matt Whitlock – #7 Xavier Lindsay
C: #8 Leo Lombard – #2 Levi Ashcroft – #11 Christian Moraes
HF: #23 Tom Gross – #28 Jobe Shanahan – #12 Jagga Smith
F: #6 Archer Day-Wicks – #40 Tyler Welsh – #5 Malakai Champion
FOL: #33 Oliver Dean – #27 Finn O’Sullivan – #29 Josh Smillie

INT: #4 Lucas Camporeale, #9 Sam Marshall, #10 Ricky Mentha, #21 Joel Cochran, #24 Harvey Langford, #34 Sam Lalor

FULL SQUAD